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Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

Hey. I am sitting here and about to throw my computer out the window. How do i log into root? I have been trying everything i can think of and i can't for the life of me figure it out......someome help me please x.x

What distribution are you running? In SuSe, i simply log out of kde, and then type root in the username box and enter the root password. Alternatively you could type su in a terminal, then enter the root password. This will give you super user priviledges.

I'm surprised you didn't already get a response, anyway, here's what you need to do:

FYI: A "$" denotes type the stuff after this in a terminal window, people will use this to show you how to do stuff along the way, just so you don't get confused.

Code:

$ su

After you type su and hit enter, it'll ask you to put in the root password. After that, you have become root. That's all there is to it! To get out of root (since it's a bad idea to run stuff as root if you don't have to) simply do:

Code:

$ exit

And you're sent back to whatever user was on before they su'd to root.

Originally posted by iain.ross What distribution are you running? In SuSe, i simply log out of kde, and then type root in the username box and enter the root password. Alternatively you could type su in a terminal, then enter the root password. This will give you super user priviledges.

It's generally bad practice to log in as root in a GUI, it's much safer to do it strictly within the terminal.

If you are at a text prompt that asks for your username, type root. If there's a password, you'll be prompted to enter it.

If you are in a GUI such as kde, gnome, or a window manager, open up a console (for example, click the konsole button on the task bar on kde). Type "su" (without the quotation marks at the prompt). This stands for superuser and will give you root's priveleges. Again, if there is a root password, you will be prompted to enter it.

An alternative method in a GUI is to hold down the ctrl and alt keys and press an f-button (probably f2). This will give you a text prompt where you can log in by typing "root" (again, without the quotation marks, and again, if you have a root password, you will be prompted for it).